Saturn Vue Electrical Problems

rpneal44

Stever - where would this "clock spring" be located? In the A/B module? Any ideas about the SES light? The ODB port not working?

P.S. That bbbind link is AWESOME!!!

stever

I'm not a mechanic, but the clock spring is a gizmo that lets you maintain electrical contact to the horn (and airbag?) while you are turning the steering wheel.

Sometimes they go bad and keep the horn from working - bad connection kind of thing.

@Mr_Shiftright may be able to offer some ideas about the other problems. Big pain when the OBD stuff won't talk to the code readers.

Mr_Shiftright

nmingledorff said:

Ok I changed the alternator in my Saturn vue 2005: now lost power steering lights and radio what is the problem help pl

Sounds like you blew a fusible link.

thecardoc3

stever said:

Big pain when the OBD stuff won't talk to the code readers.

There goes that "Just plug it in and it will tell you what is wrong" idea.

rpneal44 said:

the horn relay immediately activates, so I know it's good. okay, maybe a bad horn switch. So, since this is integral to the air bag module on the steering wheel, is it serviceable once I remove the module?

The last time that I checked GM hasn't made the horn contact in the pad serviceable. Other manufacturers have, such as Chrysler and its a pretty common failure. There are a lot of people who choose to remove the relay command circuit from the airbag and install a button for the horn.

rpneal44 said:

Second is the ODB port. My reader doesn't get any serial data from it. Won't read a thing. I've had the guys at Auto Zone try it: same thing, as did the guys at the oil change place.

Does your reader power up and not communicate or simply not power up?

rpneal44 said:

This issue, I suspect, is related to the "Maintenance Required" indicator on the dash being lit steady. (the car symbol with a wrench in it).

The maintenance required light is just what it suggests, it comes on when the engine is due for regular service including changing the oil and filter.

Do you have a voltmeter?
If so get these measurements and post the results.
From the battery negative post to the data link connector measure;
Pin 1 (if used)
Pin 2
Pin 4 (should be close to 0, at least less than .2v)
Pin 5 (should be close to 0, at least less than .2v)
Pin 7
Pin 12

safaristeve

About a year ago my 2009 Vue’s Bluetooth began to go haywire. I could be in my house or across a parking lot (with the car turned off and locked) and my phone would randomly switch to the car’s Bluetooth. I could also initiate a switch to the car’s Bluetooth with the car turned off and locked. The radio display would turn on when I did so as if the key were in the ignition. One morning after a couple of weeks of this I went to start the car and the dash display was frozen showing the number of OnStar minutes remaining. I hadn't used OnStar calling in weeks. The battery was too weak to start the car. I barely got it to start when I went home later that afternoon (intending to charge it) at which time the radio’s clock reset. From then on, Bluetooth functioned normally.

In recent weeks other issues have arisen. I frequently get a “Service Airbag System” message on my DIC and a solid airbag light upon startup, but both go away within a few seconds. My OnStar (and Bluetooth) often do not come on at all (no green or red light) and the car acts as though the system doesn’t exist. OnStar will sometimes come back within a minute or two, but typically it won’t until the car is restarted.

Yesterday I shut off the car while on an OnStar call and continued to talk. I hung up before opening the driver’s door. The radio turned off, but when I opened the rear door on the driver’s side I heard static. The radio had turned back on and switched from XM to AM while the key was in my pocket.

I’ve also had one occurrence where I was using my rear wiper but turned it off before turning the car off. The rear wiper swiped once when I opened the rear hatch, also with the key in my pocket.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I’ve had the car since it was new with relatively few problems, but the random electrical glitches are concerning.

kimsgem

My 2009 Saturn Vue has been experiencing electrical problems for quite some time. At first I thought it was something I touched but I realized every time I take it in for anything from an oil change to brake replacement, I lose a little functionality on the dash panel. It started with an oil change after which the default door lock/entry system went haywire (try explaining to dealer mechanic what happens when you lock or open a door; i.e., what lights come off or on or the sound the car makes when locking). Anyway, more oil changes, more problems, starting with the radio, then the On Star navigation then issues with Stability Track message, window won't go down, air conditioning not getting cold, rear windshield wiper only works when I open the rear gate and now finally (after recently replacing the sway bar), the exterior headlights are out (I found out while driving at night, of course). Most of the local mechanics are mystified so I take it to the dealer who now is no longer taking Saturn's in for repair. Lucky me.

jewels85

I bought my 2007 Saturn Vue in March of this year. When purchased I noticed the radio didn't work, but thought if that was the only issue I'll live with that! A few weeks later I came out to a dead battery. The battery tested bad so I replaced it. A week or so after, I noticed it seemed to idle rough and I stalled out at a red light but was able to start right back up. (still idles rough to this day) The next morning the battery died again. I took it to a mechanic to get looked at and he suggested I take it to a local GM dealer that a code popped up that he did not have to equipment to fix. I took it to the GM dealer the next day, they had it a few days and told me no codes came up and they didn't see an issue with it. Since then it has died on me at least 4 times and I have to jump start it and it starts fine for a week or so and same thing over and over. I took it to auto zone again today to test the battery and altn. and battery tested good but needed a bit of a charge.... Any suggestions?

Just FYI it does have an aftermarket remote start and back up cam when I purchased it that seem to work fine.

GreggWoodcock

I SOLVED THIS PROBLEM!

These were my transient symptoms:
1: Instrument lights blinking off.
2: Radio blinking off.
3: Turn signals don't work.
4: Turn signal activation disengages cruise control.
5: Cruise control cannot be set.
6: Car behaves as through battery has been removed (which also means that the key cannot be removed if you put it in).
These problems could usually be triggered by using a DC->AC power converter with a heavy load, like a laptop.

There were 2 problems with the battery connections.
1: The battery connections are of a poor design and do not allow for excessive (adequate) clamping so the positive terminal had wiggled loose. This was the main problem and made the care stable for a few weeks but then the symptoms came creeping back. So I went back to the battery area and found...
2: There is a very small gauge wire connected to the accessory lug of the Ground/Negative battery terminal via a very poor quality ring lug. The connection of the crimp to the ring was so week that when I gently pulled on it, it separated completely (see the 2 pictures: 1 before, 1 after). I stripped it back and screwed the nut directly onto the wire (did not yet replace with another proper ring lug) and have done 1000 miles with heavy load and no electrical glitches at all.

Foxfix

Just got finished reading the terrible issues and realized I bought into the same crap. I got an 08 Vue 61,000 miles for my teenager from a good friend and the damn thing stalled out while she was driving. Almost all the fuses are bad like 39 out of 50. Battery and altonator were checked and good. So we think it's the computer system. I'm wondering WHY this happened tho, what shorted the fuses out and stalled it. I spend 3500 on this car and I really want to find and fix the problem before I jump to buying the pcm etc... Any tips? And before the dealership person says "we can help" I again don't have the money for the most expensive place (dealership) to look into this and say it's a grand to fix. I'm a single parent with two adopted children so just No.

kevrodz360

Hello, I have a 2006 Saturn Vue 3.5 and it decided to crank but not start, my gas gauge is saying empty and have my check engine light, gas light, and one that has a wrench through the car. Code reader will not connect, I checked all fuses and tried listening for the fuel pump but having trouble hearing if it buzzes or not. I primed by turning the key on and off, keeping the ignition on for 30 minutes. I disconnected the negative on battery and put it back. I can't check the fuel filter because I was told it's in the tank. I finally got it towed to a mechanic. I really wished I could have figured this out myself. Has anyone had an issue like this?

Atomant

Hi, I own a 2006 saturn vue. Only 86,000 miles on it. Recently I noticed the gas guage is always on empty even when I fill up the tank, how ever I still drove it to work. Then a week later I started it and pressed on the gas pedal it just sank in and it would only move really slow. I took it to a mechanic and they diagnosed it as electrical problem. They said something is preventing it from shifting past 4th gear and they don't know what it is and there's really nothing else they can do. This diagnosis cost me $148 plus $80 for towing to get it to their shop. They recommended I take it to the dealership so they could reprogramme it, good thing is they confirmed its not a transmission issue " thank goodness" but an electrical one. I took it to the dealership and they already gave an initial diagnosis cost of $140 ,now I'm waiting for a call from the dealership as to what the cause of the electrical problem is and how much it'll be to fix it.

Atomant

So I got a reply from the dealership I took my car to, they're saying they have to replace the ECM and clean the wires and it would cost $1600 for the repairs. I asked if they would guarantee the repair and the problem will not reoccur and they said no, that at least this would be a start. No way I'm coughing up that amount of money, I'm just gonna take my car to another mechanic and not deal with dealerships anymore.

Quirky1

kevrodz360 said:

Hello, I have a 2006 Saturn Vue 3.5 and it decided to crank but not start, my gas gauge is saying empty and have my check engine light, gas light, and one that has a wrench through the car. Code reader will not connect, I checked all fuses and tried listening for the fuel pump but having trouble hearing if it buzzes or not. I primed by turning the key on and off, keeping the ignition on for 30 minutes. I disconnected the negative on battery and put it back. I can't check the fuel filter because I was told it's in the tank. I finally got it towed to a mechanic. I really wished I could have figured this out myself. Has anyone had an issue like this?

I know this is a few months old, but... I did not have this same problem, but saw a Youtube video about the exact same thing you mention. In the video, the issue is caused by a bad Body Control Module (BCM). The video walks through some diagnostics, and says the problem is common. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9SygNt2UP8
Hope that helps

Quirky1

I have a 2005 Saturn Vue with 111,000 miles. It has been a very good car so far, with only a few random issues. Yesterday, all at once, the power windows, sunroof and turn signals stopped working. I have checked all of the associated fuses, and all seem to be good. The turn signal fuse only has about 2.5V though which does not seem right. The car also threw 10 codes P0097, P0108, P0112, P0117, P0641, P0651, P2122, P2127, P2228, P2554. All seem related to sensors seeing low voltage or out of range. The car still ran good, and made it home. I suspect a bad ground somewhere, and plan to start there, but was wondering if anyone has seen this issue and has any suggestions as to what might be causing this.

cassondrahughes

I have a Saturn Vue 2009. When it gets Cold (under 40 degrees) the odometer and gas gauge will go up and down. Locks go up and down. It won’t shift gears, I can’t drive it. I have to wait for it to warm up before I can drive it. All summer is was perfect. Last winter and now this winter it’s getting cold so it’s not driving. Hearing it’s the BCM or ground wiring.
Any help or advice would be appreciated 😩